The 10 Best Electric Coolers
Nov 2018

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Your Guide To
Buying an Electric Cooler

By Yehudah Posnick

An electric cooler is a big convenience when going camping or to the beach, or even if you're just traveling by car. A regular cooler requires you to pack ice together with your drinks, or cool the drinks before—or maybe you'll have to find a place that sells ice. An electric cooler will save you all that hassle. These are units that run on 12 volts—you can just hook them up to the power supply inside your car with an adapter cable. Some of these coolers have a setting so that they also be used to keep food warm. Either way, it's worth looking at the options that are available. Here is a guide to some of the best electric coolers on the market.

There are features that all electric coolers have—like hooking up to the car's 12 V power supply. You can distinguish between electric coolers by the methods that they use to cool:

Thermoelectric: This transfers the heat from your food and drinks to a heat absorbing device, and a fan blows out the heat. The 12-volt fan is the only moving part. It can't cool as much as a typical fridge, but it does get the food cooler. They will not be able to freeze water into ice, but they can keep ice for up to 2-3 days.

Compressor: This works on the same principle as a household refrigerator. A refrigerant such as freon gas absorbs heat, and a condenser compresses it back into liquid form.

Absorption: This uses ammonia gas that is evaporated by means of lowering the pressure. Evaporation cools things off inside the cooler. The ammonia gas is then absorbed by another liquid. This solution is heated—the ammonia evaporates out, and then is condensed back into pure ammonia gas. Then the cycle starts again.

Based on all the consumers' reviews we've scanned, these are the top things they mentioned about their new stuff:

Easy to clean: Since you might use the cooler to keep food cold as well as drinks, you'll want a cooler that is easy to clean. Some of them unfortunately don't only keep the cold inside—they also retain odors. So make sure that it's not hard to clean it out afterwards. Some even have a removable lining for easier cleaning. Just in case, it's best to put the food in ziploc bags or reclosable containers, to reduce the risk of food leaking out.

Advantages over a fridge: If you want to keep things cold, why not just buy a small fridge? A big reason is the price—you can get a decent cooler for around $100-$120. A portable 43-quart capacity fridge will run for around $950—you can get a smaller model for around $400. Another consideration is the weight—the cooler is a lot more portable than a fridge (fans of the fridge say that they rarely have to take it out of their RV, though).

Durability of the handle and the lock: If the cooler has a handle, try to look for a cooler with a large, sturdy handle. If the handle breaks, it will be harder to carry it around. Also, check the way the unit closes. If it doesn't close properly, it won't keep food cold properly either. Some prefer a magnetic lock over a plastic one—the plastic tends to wear out over time. Also, some coolers open from the side, whereas some open from the top. (Some can be put in either position.) If it opens from the side, the quality of the lock is much more important.

Auxiliary battery: Some coolers have a back-up battery. That way, it will keep food and drinks cold even if you're not hooked up to a power source.

Length of the cord: You might want a longer power cord, so that you can put the cooler in the back of a station wagon and still plug it in. (Otherwise, it will have to sit in the passenger seat, which might not be so convenient.)

Cooling temperature: An electric cooler won't be quite as cold as a fridge. Some can go down to around 36 degrees Fahrenheit. You won't be able to freeze food, but it will keep drinks cold and food from spoiling. Sometimes the temperature they reach depends on the ambient temperature—on a hot day, they won't be able to get it down to near-freezing. They will just get your food or drinks 40 degrees Fahrenheit ( 22 degrees Celsius) cooler than the temperature outside.

Heating option: Some electric coolers also have a heating option as well. You won't be able to cook food, but it will be able to get food to 140 degrees.

Volume: The size of the cooler will determine how much you can pack inside. What size you buy will depend on the length of your trips, and how many people you take along. If you are traveling alone on a short trip, it might be enough to get a cooler that's just 14 quarts in capacity that you can carry around on your shoulder.

Igloo—is a company that produces outdoor recreation products. They were founded in 1947, and have their headquarters in Katy, Texas. They make coolers, cooler tote bags, and water jugs.

Coleman-- is an American company started by W.C. Coleman in 1905 in Brockton, Alabama. He originally started manufacturing gas lamps, but soon expanded to outdoor gas stoves, and then eventually to an entire line of outdoor recreation products: tents, sleeping bags, camping furniture, backpacks, coolers, and more.

Koolatron— was founded in 1983, as makers of thermoelectric and refrigeration products. Their headquarters is located in Brantford, Ontario. They market coolers and warmers, as well as lamps and chargers.

Wagan—is a maker of automotive accessories. They were founded in 1975, and have their headquarters in Hayward, California. They also make power inverters, power supplies, and solar power products.

Dometic—is a brand of Electrolux Group. They were founded in 1968, and have their headquarters in Pompano Beach, Florida. They employ absorption cooling technology in coolers and refrigerators. They also make climate control products, awnings, sanitation systems, windows and doors.